Working environment control apparatus



June 24, 1969 Y B. R. HULIN 3,451,505

WORKING ENVIRONMENT CONTROL APPARATUS Filed. Feb. 7, 1968 Sheet orz f'lEEL-E INVENT'OR. @O/VN/E Q, HUI. MJ

A 7' GPA/E) June 24, 1969 B. R. HULIN' 3,451,505

WORKING ENVIRONMENT CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Feb. 7, 1968 Sheet 2 of 2 BLOWER COOL H2 INVENTQR. 5OMV/E- 4% HUL/M F'i rrFi United States Patent Office 3,451,505 Patented June 24, 1969 Int. Cl. A62b 17/00 US. Cl. 182129 I 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for permitting control of the working environment of a workman in an aerial basket of the type carried at the end of an elevatable boom structure mounted on a portable vehicle. The environment control 'appartus includes a blower for moving air through a conduit which is supported on an articulated boom, and which terminates at its upper end at a sealed connection with a basket in which a work-man may stand. Included in the apparatus is a torso garment having a waist portion, and having arm portions sealed at the cuff. The waist portion is provided with a sealing ring which cooperates with a channel which is located on the upper side of a cover plate for the basket, and is disposed around a large central aperture in such cover plate so that temperature controlled air passed through theplate from the conduit may pass upwardly into the torso garment, as well as down into the basket, and thus provide a thermally controlled environment for the workman without impairing ease of movement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A Field of the invention Brief description of. the prior art It has heretoforebeen proposed to provide heated cabs orhousings at the upper end of articulated boom structures carried by various types of vehicles in order to protect from the elements, workmen who are moved by the articulated boom structure and housing to a work situs. It has further been proposed to provide various types of protective garments for persons exposed to extreme conditions of climate. or weather..Articles of apparel which have been designed for this'purpose include, for example, various types of diving suits, the clothing worn by astronauts, and asbestos suits or the like worn by firefighters.

In the type of work which entails the elevation ofa workman in a bucket or cage-type structure into close proximity to an elevated work situs, such as a signal light or a power line, it is important that such workman not be restricted or hampered in his freedom of movement, and that he be permitted the full range of usage of his arm and hands. Moreover, it is highly desirable that he not be limited in his ability to pivot or turn in the supporting bucket or cage, since it is frequently much easier to, gain access to a part to be repaired or maintained by the workman maneuvering his body, than by the operator of the truck or vehicle carrying an articulated boom which supports the bucket or cage to maneuver this supporting apparatus to bring the workman to the optimum location for performing the work required.

Within my knowledge, no device or system has here tofore been proposed which will provide a controlled temperature environment for a workman carried in an elevated bucket or basket of the type described, and which will in no way restrict or hamper the freedom of movement of the worker which is essential to the accomplishment of his task.

Brief description of the present invention The present invention provides a controlled temperature environment for a workman supported in an elevated bucket or basket, which apparatus allows total use of the arms and hands of the workman and permits the workman to turn completely around in the basket without encountering any impediment afforded by the apparatus. Broadly described, the apparatus of the invention comprises an automotive vehicle which has a boom structure mounted thereon and movable relative thereto. A workman-supporting basket is mounted on the boom structure remote from the vehicle, and can be moved to a work situs by movement of the boom structure. A source of controlled temperature air, such as a blower or the like, is mounted either on the vehicle or on the boom structure, and is interconnected by conduit means with the basket for conveying air from the blower or other source of the basket. The conduit means is preferably supported at least in part by the boom structure. A torso garment having a waist portion and arm portions carries a sealing means at its lower edge around the waist portion, which sealing means sealingly engages the upper edge of the basket.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sealing means which is utilized includes an apertured cover plate which can be clamped at its peripheral edges in sealing engagement with the upper edge of the basket, and which carries around a large aperture therethrough, a channel which is adapted to receive a sealing ring carried by the waist portion of the torso garment. The sealing ring is a split or segmented ring or annular member which is hinged at one point and carries a buckle or clasp at another point permitting it to be locked in an annular configuration after it has been placed in the channel of the cover plate.

The generally described apparatus permits an important and major obljective of the invention to be achieved, i.e., the provision ,of a controlled temperature environment surrounding the workman standing in the basket without concurrently unduly restricting the freedom of movement of the workman.

Another object achieved by the invention is the provision of a system for controlling the temperature of the working environment of a workman standing in an aerial bucket or basket, such system being adapted for use with, or attachment on, existing aerial baskets of the type supported at the upper end of an articulated boom carried by a vehicle.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide apparatus which can be donned or worn by a workman while standing in an aerial bucket, which apparatus will permit the workman to be warmed or cooled over his entire body while carrying out substantially any task which can be performed from the aerial bucket.

In addition to the foregoing described objects and advantages, additional objects and advantages will become apparent as the following detailed description of the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation of the entire assembly of the invention, depicting a vehicle carrying an articulated boom structure which supports an aerial basket at the upper end thereof, and showing a workman standing in said basket and protected by the environment control system of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view in elevation of the aerial basket and of the workman standing therein and protected by a portion of the apparatus of the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of one end of the boom and the aerial basket, showing the cover plate portion of the apparatus of the invention mounted on the basket.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken through the upper portion of the basket and the cover plate which is secured thereon, and also showing in section a portion of the torso garment worn by a workman as this garment appears adjacent the waist portion thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a schematic view illustrating the air delivery system utilized in the invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention Referring initially to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a truck-type vehicle 10 has mounted on the bed thereof, an articulated boom structure 12 of a common type presently in commercial use. The boom structure includes a lower portion 12a and an upper portion 12b which is pivotally connected to the lower portion and actuated by means of a suitable hydraulic cylinder and piston arrangement 14. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, there is located on the bed of the truck 10, a suitable source of controlled temperature air, such as a blower 16, which will be explained in greater detail hereinafter. Suitable conduit means, which includes an elongated conduit 18 and a quick disconnect linking tube 20, is connected between the source of controlled temperature air and an aerial basket 22. The conduit 18 is preferably supported at various points along its length onthe articulated boom structure 12, and includes a bight portion located at about the point of pivotal interconnection of the upper and lower sections, 12b and 12a, of the boom structure to permit the conduit means to be accommodated to the various movements of the boom structure. A workman is illustrated as standing in the aerial basket 22 and is designated generally by reference numeral 24.

In FIGURE 2 of the drawings, a more detailed view of the aerial basket 22 and workman 24 is presented and certain specific portions of the controlled environment system of the invention are illustrated therein. The basket 22 is, of course, sufiiciently large that a workman may stand therein, and most of the baskets currently in use are of a depth such that they extend approximately to the waist of the workman. Thebasket 22 is secured by a suitable connection to the outer end of the boom section 12b; preferably by a swivel-type connection which will permit the basket to remain vertical despite movements of the boom structure. The conduit 18 extends to near the end of the boom section 12b where it enters a quick connect fitting 26 which has 4 a friction type coupling flange projecting from the upper portion thereof. One end of a flexible linking tube 28 is pressed over the friction type coupling flange of the fitting 26 and the other end of the linking tube is connected to a similar quick connect fitting 20 which is secured to the upper surface of a cover plate 32 which is sized and configured to extend across the top of the basket 22 and abut flatly against the upper edge of the basket. conventionally, aerial baskets or buckets of the type here under consideration will have an outwardly turned flange at the upper edge thereof, and, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the cover plate 32 is sealingly clamped to this flange by means of a series of C-clamps 34. Subsequently any type of locking or clamping device can be used, however, for sealingly engaging the cover plate 32 with the upper portion of the basket 22 so that air is prevented from leaking between the cover plate and the basket.

The cover plate 32 is centrally apertured with a relatively large aperture 36 which is large enough to permit the workman 24 to stand in this aperture, and yet have a relatively large space surrounding his waist or the central portion of his body. Surrounding the aperture 36 in the cover plate 32 is an upwardly and outwardly extending channel 38 which is best illustrated in FIGURE 4. The channel 38 forms with the cover plate 32, a generally C-shaped annular groove or recess which is dimensioned to receive a segmented seal ring, designated generally by reference numeral 40, and preferably constructed of a material having a low coefficient of friction, such as Teflon. The segmented seal ring 40 is bonded, or in any suitable manner secured, to the lower edge or waist portion of a torso garment 42 worn by the workman 24. The segmented seal ring 40 includes first and second portions 40a and 40b. These portions or segments 40a and 40b of the seal ring 40 are hingedly interconnected to each other in end-to-end relation by a suitable hinge means 44 (see FIGURE 5), and can be coupled at their opposite ends by a suitable buckle 46, clamp or other connecting means to secure the segments in a substantially annular configuration. The torso garment 42 is provided with a suitable vertically extending closure member 48 extending from the neck portion thereof to the waist adjacent the ends of the segments 40a and 40b. The vertically extending closure member 48 is preferably a zipper or similar device, and is preferably made from a non-conducting material rather than of metal, since the workman will frequently be engaged in a repair or maintenance operation involving exposure to high voltages and currents, and it is preferred that metallic structure be minimized in the construction of the apparatus of the invention. The torso garment 42 further includes a pair of sleeves 50a and 50b which have suitable elastic rings in the cuffs thereof to closely encircle the wrists of the workman 24 and prevent the escape of air from inside the torso garment. Finally, the torso garment preferably includes a hood 52 which can be drawn about the head of the workman during extremely cold weather.

For the purpose of supplying controlled temperature air to the aerial basket 22, and to the torso garment 42, a blower 16 or other suitable air propulsion device is mounted, either upon the vehicle 10 as shown in FIGURE 1, or upon some part upon the boom structure 12. In one embodiment of the invention, the blower 16 has mounted in the discharge therefrom, a plurality of resistance-type heater elements 56 which can heat the air being blown thereacross by the blower. The conduit 18 is connected to the discharge of the blower 16 and receives heated air therefrom for conveyance to the basket 22 via the linking tube 20. In addition to the heating elements 56, the air is also directed, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, through a cooling device 58 which may be located at any convenient point in the conduit 18. The cooling device 58 and heating elements 56 are, of course, used alternately, depending upon the ambient temperature adjacent the workman 24 or the particular seasonal conditions encountered.

Operation In describing the operation of the invention, it will be assumed, of course, that it is necessary or desirable for a workman to be raised aloft in the aerial basket 22 for the purpose of repairing or maintaining certain elevated structure, and that this job is to be performed on a day when it is extremely cold or excessively warm. On such an occasion, the workman enters the basket 22 while it is lowered to an accessible position. Upon entering the basket, the workman steps through the large aperture 36 in the cover plate 32, and then secures the cover plate to the upper edge of the basket by means of the clamps 34. The linking tube 20 is connected between the quick connect fittings 26 and 30.

The torso garment 42 is then donned. This is done by opening the closure element 48 and opening the segmented ring 40 by pivoting the segments 40a and 40b apart from each other about the hinge 44. The arms of the workman are then inserted in the sleeves 50a and 50b, and the hood 52 placed over the head of the workman. The segments 40a and 40b are then joined at their ends opposite the hinge 44, and retained in this joined status by use of the buckle 46. It will be noted in referring to FIGURES 4 and 5 that when the segmented ring 40 is joined in this manner (in a substantially annular configuration), the ring 40 extends radially inwardly into the channel 38. The ring 40, which is preferably constructed of a low coefficient of friction synthetic resin, such as Teflon, extends inwardly to a position close enough to the vertically extending portion of the channel 38 that little or no air can escape between the ring 40 and the channel 38. There is yet, however, enough space between the ring 40 and the channel 38 that the ring may rotate freely about the channel as the workman turns in the basket 22. The vertically extending closure member 48 is then closed.

The workman 24 standing in the basket 22 can now be elevated into close proximity to the equipment which is to be repaired or maintained. This is accomplished, of course, by movement of the boom structure 12. As soon as the workman has completed the donning of the torso garment 42 and the connection of the linking tube 20 in the position shown in FIGURE 2, the blower 16 may be energized along with the resistance heating elements 56 to circulate warm air through the conduit 18 and the linking tube 20 into the basket 22. As the heated air enters the basket through the quick connect fitting 30, the air can move downwardly in the basket, as well as upwardly into the torso garment 42. It is to be understood that the temperature of the air is thermostatically controlled by any suitable means, and the workman can,

of course, obtain some further control of his comfort by partially opening the vertically extending closure member 48, which is, of course, adjustable in its position of closure.

During excessively hot days in the summer, the resistance heater elements 56 are de-energized, and the cooler 58 is placed in operation. This cools the air passing through the cooler and delivered via the conduit 18 and linking tube 20 to the basket 22. The workman 24 is thus able to operate in comfort at any season of the year. It should be pointed out that the torso garment 42 also provides protection from both rain and wind.

During the performance of work by the workman 24, the workman may have occasion to wish to pivot about from one position to another within the basket 22. This can be easily accomplished with little resistance to such turning movements, since the segmented ring 40 does not tightly engage the channel 38, and is made of a low coefiicient of friction material so that it slides easily against the plastic material of the channel at such points as there may be contact therebetween.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been herein disclosed, and is depicted in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that various changes and innovations may be made in this structure without departure from the basic principles which underlie the invention. Changes and innovations of this type are therefore deemed to be circumscribed by the spirit and scope of the invention, except as the same may be necessarily limited by the appended claims or reasonable equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for providing a controlled temperature working environment comprising:

an automotive vehicle;

a boom structure mounted on the vehicle and movable relative thereto;

a workman-supporting basket mounted on the boom structure remote from the vehicle;

a source of controlled temperature air;

conduit means for conveying air from said source to the basket and supported at least in part by said boom structure;

a torso garment having a waist portion and arm portions; and

means sealingly interconnecting the waist portion of the garment to the upper edge of said basket.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said sealingly interconnecting means comprises:

an apertured cover plate extending across the top of said basket and secured thereto;

a channel surrounding the aperture in the cover plate and secured to the upper surface of the cover plate;

a segmented seal ring secured around the waist portion of said torso garment and extending slidingly and sealingly into said channel, said seal ring having first and second portions hingedly interconnected in endto-end relation, and including means for interlocking the opposite ends of said first and second portions.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 and further characterized to include an adjustably closable vertically extending closure member extending upwardly from the waist portion of said garment from a point adjacent said opposite ends of the portions of said seal ring.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 and further characterized to include a quick connect coupling fitting on said cover plate communicating with the interior of said basket and detachably connected to one end of said conduit means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said conduit means includes a flexible conduit having one end connected to said source of controlled temperature air, and a second end adjacent the end of said boom structure remote from said automotive vehicle; and

a linking tube quick detachably connected between second end and said fitting.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said source of controlled temperature air comprises:

a blower; and

heater means positioned adjacent the discharge of said blower.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said boom structure is articulated.

8. Apparatus for use by a workman carried by an aerial, boom-supported basket comprising:

a torso garment for surrounding the upper portion of the body of the workman;

a cover plate sealingly and movably secured to the waist portion of the torso garment and adapted to extend across and seal the open upper end of the basket when the workman stands therein;

a source of controlled temperature air; and

conduit means connected to the source of controlled temperature air and to an opening through said cover said 1,370,316 3/1921 Houdini 2-2.1

Broderson 182-2 McCor-mack 2P2.1

Jennings 22.1 Laun 182129 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

